Oxygen regulator

Abstract

An oxygen regulator for supplying a recipient with breathable fluid in response to an inhalation demand. A diaphragm which is responsive to the inhalation demand operates a balanced oxygen valve to allow pressurized oxygen flow into a mixing chamber. The flow of pressurized oxygen into the mixing chamber draws air into the mixing chamber through an altitude responsive valve. The pressurized oxygen and air are combined in the mixing chamber to create a volume of breathable fluid sufficient to meet the inhalation demand of the recipient.

I claim: 
     
       1. An oxygen regulator for use in an aircraft comprising: a housing having a mixing chamber therein with a first entrance port connected to a source of pressurized oxygen, a second entrance port connected to the atmosphere, and an outlet port through which breathable fluid is communicated to a breathing apparatus;   wall means responsive to an inhalation demand signal of a recipient for generating an operational input signal;   first valve means responsive to said operational input signal for allowing pressurized oxygen to flow through said first entrance port into said mixing chamber;   second valve means responsive to altitude of the aircraft for allowing air to be communicated into said mixing chamber and combined therein with said pressurized oxygen to create said breathable fluid;   sensing means responsive to altitude of the aircraft for developing an altitude signal which acts on said wall means to change the pressure at which said pressurized breathable fluid is communicated to said recipient as a function of altitude; and   first relief valve means connected to said mixing chamber and said sensing means for relieving fluid pressure from said mixing chamber when a predetermined operational fluid pressure level is created therein, said altitude signal modifying the operation of said first relief valve means to maintain said predetermined operational fluid pressure level throughout the operational altitude range of the aircraft.   
     
     
       2. The oxygen regulator as recited in claim 1, wherein said first valve means includes: a cylindrical member which extends through said first entrance port into said mixing chamber, said cylindrical member having a bore therethrough;   a tube through which said pressurized oxygen is communicated into said bore;   a sleeve surrounding said tube;   linkage means for connecting said sleeve to said wall means;   a spherical member located in said bore adjacent said tube; and   resilient means for seating said sleeve on said spherical member to prevent said pressurized oxygen from being communicated into said bore, said operation input signal created by movement of said wall means being communicated through said linkage means to overcome said resilient means and move said sleeve means away from said spherical member to allow pressurized oxygen to be communicated into said mixing chamber.   
     
     
       3. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 2, wherein said second valve means includes: a first diaphragm means for separating a first chamber in the second entrance port from a second chamber, said first chamber being connected to said source of pressurized oxygen;   stem means attached to said diaphragm means having a face thereon; and   a stop connected to said housing, said pressurized oxygen acting on said diaphragm to hold said stem against said stop and allow unrestricted flow of air through said second chamber into the mixing chamber.   
     
     
       4. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 3, wherein said second valve means further includes: resilient means connected to said stop means for urging said stem means against a seat to prevent the flow of air through said second chamber in the absence of pressurized oxygen in said first chamber.   
     
     
       5. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 4, wherein said second valve means includes: a first aneroid means for restricting the flow of air from the second chamber by changing the size of the flow path into the mixing chamber as a function of altitude.   
     
     
       6. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 2, wherein said wall means includes: second diaphragm means for segregating said mixing chamber from a control chamber, said second diaphragm means being connected to said linkage means for supplying said second valve means with said operational input signal corresponding to an inhalation demand.   
     
     
       7. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 6, wherein said sensing means includes: second aneroid means connected to said source of pressurized oxygen, the atmosphere, and said control chamber, said second aneroid means responding to changes in altitude for restricting the communication of pressurized oxygen through the control chamber to the atmosphere as a function of altitude to develop said altitude signal, said altitude signal providing said control chamber with a positive pressure to thereby correspondingly increase the fluid pressure of the breathable fluid in said mixing chamber and satisfy said inhalation demand signal.   
     
     
       8. The oxygen regulator as recited in claim 7, further including: anti-suffocation valve means for allowing air to flow into the mixing chamber in response to an inhalation breathing demand upon depletion of said source of pressurized oxygen.   
     
     
       9. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 6, further including: a second relief valve for maintaining the pressure of the breathable fluid in the mixing chamber below a predetermined level.   
     
     
       10. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first valve means includes: a tube for connecting the first entrance port to the mixing chamber; and   a nozzle on the end of said tube for controlling the velocity of the pressurized oxygen flowing into the mixing chamber.   
     
     
       11. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 10, wherein said housing further includes: a conduit system through which said source of pressurized oxygen is connected to said entrance port and said sensing means.   
     
     
       12. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 11, wherein said first valve means further includes: a shroud connected to said tube for directing the flow of pressurized oxygen away from said wall means, said shroud having an opening adjacent said second entrance port for allowing the flow of pressurized oxygen from the nozzle to draw air into the mixing chamber.   
     
     
       13. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 12, wherein said first valve means further includes: a poppet located adjacent said first entrance port;   a cylindrical member located in said conduit connecting said source of oxygen with said sensor means, said cylindrical member and said conduit cooperating to establish a controlled flow path for the communication of pressurized oxygen to said sensing means;   linkage means for connecting said poppet to said cylindrical member; and   resilient means for urging said sleeve toward a seat surrounding said first entrance port to prevent the flow of pressurized oxygen into the pressurized oxygen supply chamber upon termination of said inhalation demand signal.   
     
     
       14. The oxygen regulator as recited in claim 13, wherein said wall means includes: lever means pivotally attached to the housing for moving said poppet away from said seat in response to movement of said wall means by an inhalation demand signal.   
     
     
       15. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 14, wherein said wall means includes: a partition for separating said mixing chamber from an inhalation responsive chamber, said partition having an opening for connecting the mixing chamber with the inhalation responsive chamber; and   a diaphragm for separating said inhalation responsive chamber from a control chamber, said control chamber being connected to said sensing means, said diaphragm moving in response to changes in pressure between the control chamber and the inhalation responsive chamber for moving said lever means and operate said first valve means.   
     
     
       16. The oxygen regulator, as recited in claim 15, wherein said partition includes: a static pressure tube extending from said opening in said partition to said adjacent outlet port in said housing to attenuate the effect of the flow of pressurized oxygen and air inhalation demand signals.